At least eight people were injured in a drone and missile strike on Kyiv early Saturday, even as Ukraine and Russia launched their most extensive prisoner exchange since the war began in 2022.
The head of Kyiv’s military administration, Tymur Tkachenko, reported widespread damage and debris across the capital. Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that two of the injured were hospitalized and that air defense systems had been active throughout the night.
The attack coincided with the first phase of a landmark prisoner swap. Both countries exchanged 390 individuals on May 23, with plans to exchange 1,000 each over a three-day period. Talks held in Istanbul the previous week paved the way for the agreement.
Russia claims Ukraine has launched 788 drones and missiles since Tuesday, with 776 intercepted.
“This is the first stage of the 1,000-for-1,000 exchange,” President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on X. He said the swap would continue through the weekend.
Emotional scenes unfolded in northern Chernihiv, where freed Ukrainian soldiers—some visibly weak—were welcomed by tearful relatives and supporters waving national flags. Among them was Viktor Syvak, 58, who had been imprisoned in Mariupol for over three years.
On the Russian side, 270 troops and 120 civilians were reportedly returned, some from the disputed Kursk region.
The identities of many exchanged individuals remain undisclosed. Ukrainian families, like that of Liudmyla Parkhomenko, continue to search for missing loved ones. “We’ve been looking for our son for two years,” she said.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump praised the swap on Truth Social, suggesting it “could lead to something big.” However, his diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire have yet to yield results.
Russia has hinted at sending Ukraine peace terms following the exchange but has not disclosed details. Diplomatic efforts have recently intensified, though Moscow maintains its hardline position after three years of brutal conflict that has left tens of thousands dead.
